I totally understand your concern. When I had severe pre-e with my son I was so out of it I didn't realize how sick I was. I went from slightly high BP at an OB appointment to narrowly avoiding an emergency c-section the next day. After I was home from the hospital and learned more I started freaking out.

My husband remembers during labor my BP getting up into 190s/130s. Crazy! I just remember feeling extremely weak and short of breath and pretty out of it.

However with my subsequent pregnancies it was a totally different story. Even though I was much more nervous, I was watched much more closely and never became as ill, delivering both times at 37 weeks.

Hang in there and good luck!

I totally understand your concern. When I had severe pre-e with my son I was so out of it I didn't realize how sick I was. I went from slightly high BP at an OB appointment to narrowly avoiding an emergency c-section the next day. After I was home from the hospital and learned more I started freaking out.

My husband remembers during labor my BP getting up into 190s/130s. Crazy! I just remember feeling extremely weak and short of breath and pretty out of it.

However with my subsequent pregnancies it was a totally different story. Even though I was much more nervous, I was watched much more closely and never became as ill, delivering both times at 37 weeks.

I know what you mean. It's amazing to look back and see just how fast I got sick. But, in my case, it's also amazing to see all of the signs that pointed to it even earlier that no one picked up on. That's why I feel a little more "ready" this time. I know the signs (the horrible swelling, headaches, etc, increase in BP). I started to swell as early as 23-24 weeks and didn't develop pre-e until 28 weeks. It went from no pre-e to severe in 6 days. At 27w3d weeks my 24 hour was 164, at 28w2d it was 1900. So, it happened FAST. At 28w1d, my urine dip was 1+ in the afternoon, by the next morning it was 4+.

It's so scary too because it can happen so fast. You can't feel a sense of security at all because you know the ball could drop tomorrow with no warning. Pre-e is a nasty, nasty disease. We just have to hope for the best.

I know what you mean. It's amazing to look back and see just how fast I got sick. But, in my case, it's also amazing to see all of the signs that pointed to it even earlier that no one picked up on. That's why I feel a little more "ready" this time. I know the signs (the horrible swelling, headaches, etc, increase in BP). I started to swell as early as 23-24 weeks and didn't develop pre-e until 28 weeks. It went from no pre-e to severe in 6 days. At 27w3d weeks my 24 hour was 164, at 28w2d it was 1900. So, it happened FAST. At 28w1d, my urine dip was 1+ in the afternoon, by the next morning it was 4+.

It's so scary too because it can happen so fast. You can't feel a sense of security at all because you know the ball could drop tomorrow with no warning. Pre-e is a nasty, nasty disease. We just have to hope for the best.

I just got my hospital records from my 2nd child's birth, for me to pass along to my current OB. I wanted the records sent to me directly so I could have a copy.

I was looking at my BP history from pregnancy through postpartum with my daughter...and whoa. Pre-e really can come on full-force without much warning!

For example, in my case, my BP was fine most of my pregnancy, but starting at 37w5d it was misbehaving, at 130/90. I had a NST at that time, and was cleared to leave, with more frequent checkups scheduled. My BP lowered on its own, and was acceptable for the remainder of my prenatal appointments.

I showed up in active labor at the birth center at 40w1d, with a BP of 140/90. I was surprised they let me stay there as long as they did -- I figured I'd do an immediate transfer to the hospital. Looking back, I'm glad I was at the birth center for a little while and in the tub. It helped me to relax and progress very quickly.

They did 2 urine dipsticks, and my urine showed no protein, with the last test conducted at 6:45 a.m.

With two BPs in the 150s/100 range, they had to help me out of the tub, help me get dressed, help me buckle my seatbelt, and on we went to the hospital. I WANTED to be at the hospital, but I was unable to help get myself. All I could do was be in labor. I couldn't even put my pants on myself. I thought that was pretty amusing, and I even told them I wasn't trying to be difficult. They knew .

So, at the hospital I was very close to being done with birth. They drew some blood, my water broke, and she was born at 9:46 and healthy and awesome.

My BP was still high, 157/90. The bloodwork from that time came back a few hours later, and my protein count was 628. I know that urine dipsticks are only qualitative, but I'm amazed that just a few hours prior it appeared I had no spilling protein, and less than 4 hours later I had full-blown preeclampsia.

They started the mag at 2:35, when I had my diagnosis confirmed. My BP lowered a bit to healthier ranges. For awhile, it seemed like the worst had passed.

Then at 11 p.m., I was complaining of a bad headache. They offered me more ibuprofen (I had already taken some earlier that day for abdominal cramping). I said I didn't think that would touch this headache, so they gave me Percocet. That was a mistake, as it made me feel very scared, freaking out kind of feeling. I think it sort of helped my headache, but I was feeling so poorly. I know that one of the symptoms of pre-e is anxiety, confusion, feeling scared, etc. I don't know for sure if it was the Percocet doing it or preeclampsia being a jerk to me. Either way, I don't think I'll opt for Percocet again.

Midnight my BP was 138/89.

Next check at 1:05 a.m., it was 171/109. Five minutes later it topped out at 187/117. Over the next hour, it fluctuated but it was still not good. I asked to have the doctor come see me directly, rather than consult just over phone or whatnot. It wasn't a doc I've seen before, just a guy doing rounds on the floor. They gave me labetelol in my IV at 2:30, and not long after that I felt so much better. My headache was finally going away, and by 3:10 my BP was 127/80.

After that, it kind of hung around good levels and then 130s/80s-90, but it never got worse than that. I didn't need more labetelol after that initial dose.

Overall, I am so thankful I was in the hospital. What would have happened to me if I wasn't on the mag? Or if they didn't get my BP down? Surely nothing good would have come of that.

I was alone though, because my husband was home with our 2yo son. We didn't have anyone in the area who could watch him for long -- he was with a friend while I was giving birth, but my husband picked him up in the evening and I saw my son for a little while. They went home to bed, and a few hours later was when things started to get nuts.

For this birth of my third child, I admit I am anxious and somewhat scared. I think that won't go away full until after my baby is born and I'm several weeks postpartum :/ I know my OB is taking my situation very seriously, and I will be at an excellent hospital. I know I'll be there for awhile after birth, and that's where I want to be (even though it's impossible to sleep with blood pressure checks every 15 minutes!).

Looking at the stats of my last birth has been good for me, I think. It shows just how sick I was, and how fast it moved and I think if I *didn't* have that happen (or mild pre-e with my firstborn), I wouldn't be as prepared for this birth.

Thanks for giving me a space to process this

I just got my hospital records from my 2nd child's birth, for me to pass along to my current OB. I wanted the records sent to me directly so I could have a copy.

I was looking at my BP history from pregnancy through postpartum with my daughter...and whoa. Pre-e really can come on full-force without much warning!

For example, in my case, my BP was fine most of my pregnancy, but starting at 37w5d it was misbehaving, at 130/90. I had a NST at that time, and was cleared to leave, with more frequent checkups scheduled. My BP lowered on its own, and was acceptable for the remainder of my prenatal appointments.

I showed up in active labor at the birth center at 40w1d, with a BP of 140/90. I was surprised they let me stay there as long as they did -- I figured I'd do an immediate transfer to the hospital. Looking back, I'm glad I was at the birth center for a little while and in the tub. It helped me to relax and progress very quickly.

They did 2 urine dipsticks, and my urine showed no protein, with the last test conducted at 6:45 a.m.

With two BPs in the 150s/100 range, they had to help me out of the tub, help me get dressed, help me buckle my seatbelt, and on we went to the hospital. I WANTED to be at the hospital, but I was unable to help get myself. All I could do was be in labor. I couldn't even put my pants on myself. I thought that was pretty amusing, and I even told them I wasn't trying to be difficult. They knew :).

So, at the hospital I was very close to being done with birth. They drew some blood, my water broke, and she was born at 9:46 and healthy and awesome.

My BP was still high, 157/90. The bloodwork from that time came back a few hours later, and my protein count was 628. I know that urine dipsticks are only qualitative, but I'm amazed that just a few hours prior it appeared I had no spilling protein, and less than 4 hours later I had full-blown preeclampsia.

They started the mag at 2:35, when I had my diagnosis confirmed. My BP lowered a bit to healthier ranges. For awhile, it seemed like the worst had passed.

Then at 11 p.m., I was complaining of a bad headache. They offered me more ibuprofen (I had already taken some earlier that day for abdominal cramping). I said I didn't think that would touch this headache, so they gave me Percocet. That was a mistake, as it made me feel very scared, freaking out kind of feeling. I think it sort of helped my headache, but I was feeling so poorly. I know that one of the symptoms of pre-e is anxiety, confusion, feeling scared, etc. I don't know for sure if it was the Percocet doing it or preeclampsia being a jerk to me. Either way, I don't think I'll opt for Percocet again.

Midnight my BP was 138/89.

Next check at 1:05 a.m., it was 171/109. Five minutes later it topped out at 187/117. Over the next hour, it fluctuated but it was still not good. I asked to have the doctor come see me directly, rather than consult just over phone or whatnot. It wasn't a doc I've seen before, just a guy doing rounds on the floor. They gave me labetelol in my IV at 2:30, and not long after that I felt so much better. My headache was finally going away, and by 3:10 my BP was 127/80.

After that, it kind of hung around good levels and then 130s/80s-90, but it never got worse than that. I didn't need more labetelol after that initial dose.

Overall, I am so thankful I was in the hospital. What would have happened to me if I wasn't on the mag? Or if they didn't get my BP down? Surely nothing good would have come of that.

I was alone though, because my husband was home with our 2yo son. We didn't have anyone in the area who could watch him for long -- he was with a friend while I was giving birth, but my husband picked him up in the evening and I saw my son for a little while. They went home to bed, and a few hours later was when things started to get nuts.

For this birth of my third child, I admit I am anxious and somewhat scared. I think that won't go away full until after my baby is born and I'm several weeks postpartum :/ I know my OB is taking my situation very seriously, and I will be at an excellent hospital. I know I'll be there for awhile after birth, and that's where I want to be (even though it's impossible to sleep with blood pressure checks every 15 minutes!).

Looking at the stats of my last birth has been good for me, I think. It shows just how sick I was, and how fast it moved and I think if I *didn't* have that happen (or mild pre-e with my firstborn), I wouldn't be as prepared for this birth.